Protecting the Vulnerable and Promoting Growth

Following three decades of progress improvements in the welfare of children and other vulnerable groups worldwide began to falter in the mid-1970s. World recession and in particular the debt crisis in Latin America and African famine have seriously affected economic development programs in less developed countries. At the same time however large-scale health programs have had a noticeable impact. This study both illustrates the extent of the current crisis and points to the successes to show how welfare policies can--and must--become part of national planning even when the economy is in crisis.